Nursing and Health Care for the Homeless

The lack of shelter creates many health hazards for the homeless and the lack of regular health care exacerbates chronic illnesses and fosters poor health practices within this group. Homeless children lack immunizations, evidence developmental delays and have increased school related health problems.

Nursing, along with other health care professions, is concerned about health care available for the homeless. Schools of nursing and individual nurses have joined with other health care providers in developing special programs to meet the needs of this population. These providers have now documented specific information about the composition of the homeless as a group and their health care needs. This book provides a national perspective of nurses' service delivery, research and experiences in working with the homeless.